Automatic machine for dispensing black coffee, white coffee, and the like

ABSTRACT

A machine for dispensing black coffee and white coffee of the cappuccino type, comprises a single housing containing both a coffee dispenser and a steam generator. A milk dispensing device having an emulsifier is connected in cantilever fashion to the housing. The milk dispensing device is connected to the steam generator, to a supply of milk and to an air inlet for producing either emulsified or simply pre-heated milk. A spout for the coffee dispenser is positioned immediately adjacent a spout for the milk dispenser and both are above a deck or platform for supporting a cup which can receive coffee with emulsified milk, coffee with pre-heated milk and coffee alone.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an automatic machine for dispensing blackcoffee, white coffee, and the like, according to the preamble of themain claim.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, such machines leave much to be desired as regardsconvenience of operation, where they are used for preparing "cappuccino"white coffee. In fact, they require the intervention of an operator inorder to have emulsified milk added to the coffee previously deliveredinto a cup, and provide the desired "cappuccino" white coffee. Thisevidently involves a waste of time. EP-A-195750 discloses an emulsifierdevice for emulsifying steam and milk.

The problem that underlies this invention is to provide a machine asspecified above, which has such structural and performancecharacteristics as to overcome the above-noted shortcoming.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

This problem is solved by a machine according to the characterizingclause of the main claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further features and the advantages of a machine according to thisinvention will become more clearly apparent from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way ofillustration and not of limitation with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale cross-sectional view of a detail of themachine shown in FIG. 1, taken along the line,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the detail in FIG. 2, taken alongthe line III--III, and

FIG. 4 shows the same detail as in FIG. 2 but at a different operationalstage thereof.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawing views, generally indicated at 1 is anautomatic machine for dispensing black coffee, white coffee, and thelike.

The machine 1 comprises, within a frame structure 2, a dispensing device3 for dispensing coffee, which has a delivery spout 4 for deliveringcoffee, said spout 4 overhanging a supporting deck 5 on which a cup orthe like can be laid.

The machine 1 also comprises, within the frame structure 2, a milkdispensing device 6.

The milk dispensing device 6 includes a steam generator 7 and anemulsifier device 8.

In the example shown, the emulsifier device 8 includes an emulsifyingchamber 9 provided with a delivery spout 10 and being communicated withan intake chamber 12 via a conduit 11.

The intake chamber 12 is communicated, via a conduit 13, with the steamgenerator 7, and via a conduit 14 with an ambient air intake 15 and viaa conduit 16 with a milk container 17, which may be a milk carton,housed within a bin 18 formed on the frame structure 2.

The emulsifier device 8 is supported on the frame structure 2 such thatthe delivery spout 10 is facing the aforesaid deck 5 substantiallyalongside delivery spout 4. In other words, the delivery spouts, 4 and10, are mounted on the frame structure 2 in side-by-side relationship,thereby enabling them to deliver coffee and milk, respectively, into onecup placed on the deck 5.

A throttling member 19 is arranged in the air conduit 14 for controllingthe flow rate of ambient air, the conduit being also provided with ashutter member 20 operable to cut off the air flow.

The milk conduit 16 has a throttling member 21 for reducing the flowrate of milk as required.

The shutter member 20 and throttling member 21 can be controlledmanually by operation of a common control knob 22.

In a preferred embodiment, the emulsifier device 8 comprises a body 23which is intended for attachment to the end of the steam conduit 13cantilever-fashion.

The body 23 is formed with a steam supply passageway 24 which extendsbetween an inlet port 25 connected to the steam conduit 13 and an outletnozzle 26 wherethrough it opens into the intake chamber 12.

An end section of the steam supply passageway 24 runs through a diffuser27 being a force fit in the body 23 and having gradually decreasing flowcross-section toward the outlet nozzle 26, which will function as anejector nozzle.

The milk conduit 16 and air conduit 14 are led to the body 23 and openinto the intake chamber 12.

In particular the milk intake conduit 16 has an end section 28 having anorientation axis X--X.

The air conduit 14 has a first section 29 which extends along a paralleldirection to the axis X--X from the air intake 15, and a second section30 which extends along a perpendicular direction Y--Y to the axis X--Xand opens into the end section 28 of a milk conduit 17 (see FIG. 4), andhence into the intake chamber 12 itself.

More specifically, the second section 30 of the air conduit 14 opensinto the end section 28 of the milk conduit 17 through a port 31 whichhas a selected square cross-sectional shape.

Located at the first section 29 of the air conduit 14 is the throttlingmember 19 for controlling the air flow rate, which is operable manuallyby means of a knurled head 32.

Located on the air conduit 14 between the first section 29 and thesecond section 30 is the shutter member 20. The shutter member 20 isembodied by a stopper 33 connected to a slider 34. The slider 34 fits ina movably guided fashion inside a seat 35 formed in the body 23 incontinuation of the second section 30 of the conduit 17 where the firstsection 29 merges with the second section 30. The assembly formed by theslider 34 and the stopper 33 is shiftable manually under the action fromthe knob 22 which is attached to the slider 34 and accessible fromoutside between a first "in" position where the stopper 33 is operativein the second section 30 of the air conduit 14 to cut off the air flow,and a second "out" position where the stopper 33 is disengaged from saidconduit section 30 and allows the flow of air therethrough.

The throttling member 21 is located in the end section 28 of the milkconduit 17 and is embodied by a cylindrical end bit 36 formed integrallywith the stopper 33 as a coaxial extension thereof and lying along thesecond section 30 centrally thereof. The end bit 36 has a working endsection 37 which has a circular cross-sectional shape and extendsthrough the square cross-section port 31.

Thus, an interspace 38 is formed between the working section 37 and theport 31 to allow of unrestricted air flow.

In accord with the movements of the slider 34 and the stopper 33, theworking section 37 of the end bit 36 will be shiftable between anoperative position where the working section 37 projectscantilever-fashion inside the end section 28 of the milk conduit 17 andan inoperative position where said working section 37 is retractedinside the port 31.

It should be noted that with the working section 37 in its operativeposition where it projects cantilever-fashion inside the end section 28,it would throttle down the cross-section of the latter and hinder theflow of milk.

Formed in the body 23 is also the cylindrical emulsifying chamber 9,which is connected to the intake chamber 12 by the conduit 11 andcommunicated with the outside through the delivery spout 10.

The conduit 11 extends in line with the steam supply passageway 24 andopens into the emulsifying chamber 9 tangetially thereof. The deliveryspout 10 locates at the center of the emulsifying chamber 9 and opens inthe downward direction toward the deck 5.

Indicated at 39 is a sheet partition which extends transversely insidethe emulsifying chamber 9 and projects from a lid 40 which is securedsealingly on the body 23 and delimits the emulsifying chamber 9 at thetop.

It should be noted that the intake air throttling member 19, located inthe first section 29 of the air conduit 14, comprises a pin element 41with a conical shape which is mounted on the body 23 in amicrometrically shiftable manner toward and away from a seat 42 formedin the body 23, said seat 42 having a conical shape matching that of thepin element 41.

The pin element 41 and seat 42 jointly define, in the first section 29,a narrowed air flow cross-section 43 which can be adjusted as required.

In particular, the pin element 41 is formed integral with a tangentscrew 44, in screw thread engagement with the body 23. The tangent screw44 is, in turn, formed integral with the knurled head 32.

Advantageously, the first section 29 has a portion 45 communicated withthe outside and the narrow cross-section 43, said portion being formedin a groove 46 cut along the tangent screw 44.

The operation of the machine 1 will be described herein below withreference to a starting condition whereby the shutter member 20 is inits open position and the throttling member 21 in its inoperativeposition.

With the machine 1 in operation, the coffee dispensing device 3 willdeliver a given amount of espresso coffee from the spout 4 toward thedeck 5 and into a cup.

Preferably simultaneously with that delivery of espresso coffee, themilk dispensing device 6 is also made to operate. More specifically,steam from the steam generator 7 will reach, through the conduit 13, theintake chamber 12 and draw thereinto by Venturi effect air and milk fromtheir respective conduits, 14 and 15.

The air and milk thus drawn in are entrained through the conduit 11 fromthe intake chamber 12 into the emulsifying chamber 9, wherein theybecome emulsified together. At the same time, the steam will transferits heat content to the milk thus emulsified with air, and heat it.

Under this heated and emulsified condition--or, in common terms, "workedup"--the milk is then delivered through the spout 10 into the cup on thedeck 5.

Thus, the "cappuccino" white coffee sought is obtained with an optimumcreamy consistency, by direct delivery of espresso coffee and heated andworked-up milk into the cup.

Should the consumer demand that non-emulsified milk be delivered, it issufficient to operate the knob 22 to cut off the flow of air through theconduit 14 and slow down the flow of milk through the conduit 16.

Accordingly, milk will reach the intake chamber at a slower rate, andthe adequately heated by the time it reaches the spout 10. By cuttingoff the flow of air, the milk can be delivered in a non-emulsifiedstate.

By operating the knob 22 in the opposite direction, the machine will berestored to its initial condition ready to dispense "cappuccino" whitecoffee upon request.

A major advantage of the machine according to the invention is that itaffords the ability to dispense "cappuccino" white coffee in a fullyautomated fashion.

A further advantage of the inventive machine is that it can deliver"cappuccino" white coffee of an uncommonly high quality, and inparticular having optimum creamy consistency.

Note should also be taken of that the machine can operate at a very fastrate, since "cappuccino" white coffee can now be served by deliveringespresso coffee and worked-up hot milk substantially simultaneously intoone cup.

It is noteworthy, however, that this machine can also meet, where quickdelivery is not a factor, specific demands to suit individual choices,as dictated occasionally by local habits and preferences, by dispensingon request the emulsified milk ahead of or after the delivery ofespresso coffee, rather than simultaneously therewith.

Another advantage of the machine of this invention is that it is highlyversatile in performance, since it can also deliver excess milk, evenjust warmed up and non-emulsified.

Understandably, the machine described in the foregoing may be alteredand modified in various ways by a skilled person in the art to meetspecific and contingent demands without by so doing departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A machine (1) for selectively dispensing black and whitecoffee of the cappuccino type, comprising: a frame structure (2); acoffee dispensing device (3) in the frame structure, having a deliveryspout (4); a milk dispensing device (6) in the frame structure,including an emulsifier device (8) and having a delivery spout (10); asteam generator connected to the emulsifier device; the delivery spout(4) of the coffee dispensing device (3) and the delivery spout (10) ofthe milk dispensing device (6) being close to each other for directdelivery into one cup; said emulsifier device including an air inlet forsupplying air and a milk conduit for supplying milk for mixing with theair and steam to emulsify the milk in the emulsifier device and fordischarge of the emulsified milk through the delivery spout of the milkdispensing device.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein theemulsifier device (8) comprises an intake chamber (12) connected to thesteam generator (7), the air inlet and milk conduit being connected tothe intake chamber and positioned so that when steam is received intothe intake chamber, air and milk are entrained by the steam for mixingwith the steam to form the emulsified milk.
 3. A machine according toclaim 2 wherein the emulsifier device comprises an emulsifying chamber(9) communicating with the intake chamber (12) for receiving the steam,air and milk and mixing the steam, air and milk to form the emulsifiedmilk, the emulsifying chamber also communicating with the delivery spout(10) of the milk dispensing device (6) for dispensing the emulsifiedmilk.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, including an air conduit (14)connected between the air inlet and the intake chamber, a shutter member(20) mounted for movement in the air conduit for closing offcommunication between the air inlet and the air conduit to block apassage of air to the intake chamber, and a throttle member (21) movablymounted to the emulsifier device for blocking the milk conduit to stop aflow of milk from the milk conduit into the intake chamber.
 5. A machineaccording to claim 4 wherein the shutter member and throttle member areconnected to each other, and to a common control knob (22) for movementof the shutter member and throttle member together when the control knobis moved.
 6. A machine for dispensing coffee with and without milk whichis pre-heated or emulsified, comprising:a housing defining an enclosureand a frame for the machine; a deck connected to the housing and beingoutside of the enclosure for supporting a cup for receiving coffee; acoffee dispensing device within the enclosure having a coffee deliveryspout extending out of the enclosure and positioned above the deck; asteam generator in the enclosure, the steam generator having a steamsupply conduit extending to a location above the deck; means forsupporting a milk container adjacent the housing; a milk conduitextending from the means for supporting the milk container and to alocation above the deck; a milk dispensing device containing a milkemulsifier and an air inlet, connected in cantilever fashion to thehousing and extending above the deck, the milk dispensing device beingconnected to the milk conduit and to the steam supply conduit forsupplying milk and steam to the emulsifier for being mixed with air fromthe air inlet to produce emulsified milk; and a milk delivery spoutconnected to the milk emulsifier and positioned above the deck andimmediately adjacent the coffee delivery spout for supporting bothcoffee and milk to a cup supported on the deck.
 7. A machine accordingto claim 6, including a shutter member movably mounted in the emulsifierand operable to admit and block air into the emulsifier through the airinlet for selectively producing emulsified and non-emulsified milk to bedispensed through the milk delivery spout.